Above: A member of the congregation lights a candle during a midnight mass vigil at a Russian Orthodox church. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Delaware’s Christmas landscape is a rich blend of diverse traditions, with Orthodox Christian groups—Greek, Ukrainian, and Russian—contributing a distinct layer. Early 20th century immigrants established these communities and have maintained their unique religious…
Above: portion of the frontispiece for Max Adeler’s “Out of the Hurly Burly” In the late 19th century, as Mark Twain delighted readers with his incisive takes on American life, another humorist from the Philadelphia area was making his mark with his own distinct brand of cleverness. Enter Charles Heber Clark—better known by his pen…
Above: The earliest outdoor lights, from General Electric, are round (center), but by 1928 they were the familiar swirled or flame shape. Also, the early lamps were painted on the outside (right), but later issues feature a scratchproof inside color (left). Collection OldChristmasTreeLighs.com Long before electric lights adorned homes and lawns during the holiday season,…
Above: Traditional Finnish Christmas table setting. collection Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum in Turku, Finland / Finnish Heritage Agency The story of Finnish Christmas customs in 17th century Delaware begins with the arrival of Finnish settlers in the New World. As subjects of the Swedish Crown, Finns were integral to Sweden’s ambitious plan to establish a foothold…
